The Honorary Elder

Chapter 417: Stirrings Overseas – The Elder

Zi Ling the Immortalette noticed Han Li’s disbelief but offered no further explanation. Instead, she glanced at Qu Hun, then smiled with a radiant charm.

“This Senior Qu must be senior’s External Incarnation, am I right?”

At these words, Han Li’s movements froze. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he stared at the woman for a long moment before finally speaking in a low voice.

“How did you know, Miss Zi Ling?”

“Hehe! Senior need not be alarmed. Our sect also possesses a method for refining avatars. It is simply too costly and has too low a success rate for anyone in the sect to cultivate it. However, senior’s avatar is quite peculiar. An ordinary avatar’s cultivation would be far lower than its master’s, yet Senior Han’s avatar has also stepped into the initial stage of Core Formation right alongside you. How very curious,” Zi Ling said with a light laugh, her bright eyes shimmering.

“Since Fellow Daoist Zi Ling has already seen through it, I have nothing to hide. But why are the other two ladies not here?” Han Li’s expression relaxed as he admitted the fact, then glanced around and asked a counter-question.

For him, the identity of Qu Hun as an avatar being seen through was only a matter of time. There was nothing surprising about it.

“Senior, please sit first. My two senior apprentices have gone to the market to purchase some things. They also intend to buy a cave dwelling in Heaven Star City to settle down here permanently,” the young woman said gracefully, inviting Han Li to sit, then explaining softly.

“Oh? Are the three of you not planning to return to the Wonderful Sound Sect?” Han Li frowned slightly after sitting down, somewhat puzzled.

“Return to the Wonderful Sound Sect? How would we dare, big sisters? Since we’ve made enemies of Extreme Yin Island, and with the two elders of the sect having already defected, returning would mean either falling into the hands of those devils again or being swallowed up by some smaller power. We have already decided to temporarily relocate the Wonderful Sound Sect into Heaven Star City. After all, our sect has accumulated some savings over the years,” Zi Ling sighed bitterly and said with a wry smile.

“I see.” Han Li nodded silently, offering no comment.

He was no close relation of theirs, so naturally, he would not show excessive concern.

Zi Ling paid no mind to his reaction. Instead, she rose and poured him a cup of fragrant tea before speaking again, her tone reserved.

“When we sisters were fleeing those puppets that had intercepted us, we caught sight of you subduing them from afar, so we knew you were safe as well. Later, Senior Apprentice Sister Fan told us that you only helped because of the Divine Thunder Bamboo. At my instruction, Sister Fan sent a transmission talisman to invite you here for a discussion.”

Zi Ling offered a brief explanation of the matter.

“The transmission talisman mentioned that Fellow Daoist Zi Ling still has Divine Thunder Bamboo. Is that true? Wasn’t it seized by Extreme Yin Island?” Han Li had no interest in circling around the topic and directly asked the question that mattered most to him.

Hearing Han Li’s blunt inquiry, a trace of mirth flickered in Zi Ling’s large eyes. She then replied in a clear, pleasant voice:

“Senior is truly a man of direct speech. Very well, I will not beat around the bush either. When our Wonderful Sound Sect obtained the item from the minor sect’s successor, we did not receive just one section of Divine Thunder Bamboo—we received two. To fetch a higher price, my mother split it in two, taking the upper half while leaving the root-bearing section in my keeping. If Senior is interested, I can hand this item over to you.”

Great joy welled up in Han Li’s heart, but his face betrayed no excitement. Instead, he cast a meaningful look at her before asking in a level voice.

“Hand it over? Miss Zi Ling needn’t say things like that. Since you used this item to arrange this meeting, just tell me your terms. I will consider them.”

Zi Ling was briefly startled by this. Her smile gradually faded. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke earnestly.

“In truth, the Divine Thunder Bamboo is of no use to the Wonderful Sound Sect as it stands now. Merely in consideration of your assistance last time, offering it to you would be proper. However, our sect has suffered a sudden upheaval. With our current strength, we cannot possibly support a sect as large as the Wonderful Sound Sect. Therefore, I would like to hire you as an invited Elder of our sect, with this bamboo as remuneration, plus a yearly payment of three hundred spirit stones. I hope you will not refuse.”

“An invited Elder?” Han Li’s expression shifted slightly.

He had not expected such a request from her at all.

“In addition to the conditions above, if you require a suitable furnace for dual cultivation to aid your cultivation, our sect can select an exceptional female disciple to offer you as a concubine,” Zi Ling added generously, without a hint of hesitation.

This condition did not evoke any notable reaction from Han Li.

With the aid of various medicinal pills, he had no use for the paltry refinement gained through dual cultivation.

But the Divine Thunder Bamboo was a different matter. Miss this chance, and there might not be another.

After a brief deliberation, he spoke cautiously.

“This condition won’t do. I’ve long been accustomed to traveling alone and have no taste for the restrictions of a sect. Miss Zi Ling, please propose a different term. Otherwise, I am willing to pay thirty percent above the market price to buy this item outright. How about that?”

“Senior is joking. For a supreme-grade material such as one of the Three Divine Woods, there is no such thing as a market price. In the hands of a cultivator who has no use for it, it is worth nothing. Yet in the eyes of a cultivator who practices a wood-element technique, it is priceless,” Zi Ling replied with a frosty smile on her face. She showed no surprise at his refusal and calmly rejected his proposal to buy it with spirit stones.

Han Li’s brows knitted tightly.

It seemed the girl knew how badly he wanted this item and would not let it go easily.

This feeling of being held at a disadvantage, of having his weakness exploited, was deeply unpleasant.

But he was certainly not about to join the Wonderful Sound Sect just for a section of Divine Thunder Bamboo and be at her beck and call.

Just as he was considering whether to give up on the Divine Thunder Bamboo and search for other materials to refine his magic treasure, the young woman across from him proposed a compromise.

“If Senior dislikes being restrained, then take up the post of honorary elder. You will enjoy the benefits of an elder without being bound by the sect leader’s commands. At the very least, our sect can use your reputation as a Core Formation cultivator to protect itself. Would this arrangement suit you?”

“Honorary elder?” Han Li was taken aback by her words, which were delivered with an air of detachment.

“If the Wonderful Sound Sect faces a great enemy, I still would not have to act?” he asked skeptically, his face full of disbelief.

“If our sect truly encounters trouble, or if we really require you to act, you may decide whether to accept on your own terms. For any assistance rendered, my sisters and I will compensate you generously afterward,” the girl replied without a moment’s hesitation, as if she had already considered the matter thoroughly.

“If I understand correctly, Miss Zi Ling, you simply wish to use my name as a Core Formation cultivator to bolster your sect’s strength, to keep opportunistic powers from harassing you in your current weakened state. As long as I do not publicly deny it when you spread the word, that would be sufficient.” Han Li lowered his head in thought for a moment, then looked up and asked slowly.

“Senior Han has understood perfectly. At the same time, we will spread the word that this avatar of yours is also a Core Formation cultivator. This will mitigate the damage caused by Zhao and Meng’s defection,” the young girl said with a slight smile, speaking with confident assurance.

“If this is truly the case, I can agree. However, I will not actively acknowledge myself as your sect’s elder before other cultivators. Do not expect me to do any publicity for your sect. Convincing others that I have become your elder—that will be your own doing.”

After weighing the matter, Han Li found no harm in this arrangement. Driven by his desire for the Divine Thunder Bamboo, he finally gave his consent.

“Very well. As long as you do not deny it when the time comes, my sisters and I will find a way to handle the rest.” The maiden’s face lit up with joy, her features radiant.

Now that the transaction was settled, Zi Ling did not drag things out. She produced a peculiar box from her person and placed it on the table.

The box was strange: it was made of neither metal nor wood, nor did it resemble jade or stone. It was translucent and covered in a faint, blue-green light.

Seeing Han Li’s curious expression, Zi Ling explained in a soft tone.

“This box is made of a material called Cream Jade. Though its name includes the word ‘jade,’ it is not actually jade. It stands outside the five elements. Only something like this can preserve the Divine Thunder Bamboo long-term without fear of spiritual energy leakage.”

Han Li nodded. He had never heard the name “Cream Jade” before, which meant it was likely a rare and precious material.

Zi Ling then raised a slender, jade-like finger. At its tip, a speck of green light the size of a soybean flickered into existence.

Without hesitation, she lightly tapped it onto the box’s lid. The light came into contact with the box’s blue-green glow, producing a faint crackling sound. The glow dissipated completely, and the lid opened slowly on its own.

Han Li’s spirit roused. He quickly focused his attention and peered inside.

(Just my luck! I didn’t realize I’d caught a chill while staying up late yesterday. My head ached fiercely the whole day; I could only manage to piece together this chapter in fits and starts—and that took another late night! I’m speechless. I hope some medicine will help by tomorrow. I’ll try my best not to miss any updates these next couple of days. Folks, I’m truly sorry about this.)